In brief
The Indonesian island of Batam has seen angry crowds block a data‑centre compound after locals complained that their taps had run dry for months. Water companies say infrastructure is being repaired while the island’s water agency has blamed a prolonged dry spell. Meanwhile, local officials and investors warn that the rapid expansion of data‑centres—bolstered by Singapore’s economic push—will push the island’s already stressed reservoirs to the brink. Experts call for clearer data on water consumption and stricter oversight, warning that decades‑old issues could erupt into repeated clashes. The clash reflects a global wake‑up call: as AI needs explode, so do concerns about the environmental and social toll of the cold‑heat of high‑speed servers.
“Water! Water!” the crowd shouted as it stormed a compound with data centres, armed with empty plastic bottles and jerry cans.
Nearly 300 locals from Batam’s Riau Islands swore that the taps at home had run dry while the new Nongsa Digital Park’s servers appeared to flow with plentiful water.
“The pipes have been broken for the last three months,” said protester Dewi Susanti. “We had reliable water until the data centres came.”
Her household now relies on tanker trucks that deliver “dirty, cloudy and smelly” water, she added.
Batam’s water utility said it was working to improve supply, but offered no comment on whether the outages were linked to the parks’ demand. BP Batam, the trade and industry authority, blamed a prolonged dry spell and denied claims that the data centres siphoned drinking water.
Data‑centre construction on the island has accelerated after Singapore lifted a construction ban in 2022, and the Riau Islands “rippled” investment. Official figures show $6.7 billion of investment by mid‑2026, with power demand expected to reach 1,100 MW by 2030.
Experts warn that a typical data centre can consume up to 300,000 gallons a day—roughly the water of 1,000 households—making the island’s artificial reservoirs, which supply 1.3 million people, quickly vulnerable.
Batam’s six reservoirs have already been under duress from a historic “super” El Niño and other drying cycles. The Bongso reservoir, vital to Bakau Serip, could dry by early 2027 if no rainfall occurs.
“We are forced to spend money on water drums,” Dewi said. “My husband must wait overnight to get water, then go straight to work.”
Local environmental groups argue that data‑centre water use should be public, suggesting that opaque use policies risk “water wars” and community backlash. “Buildings should be built rationally, transparently and responsibly,” said Professor Agus Hasan of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
Opposition to data‑centres has also risen on Johor, Malaysia, where the state has begun to regulate how much water and electricity these facilities consume after similar community concerns.
In light of growing protests, residents in other districts — such as Sei Beduk — are urging authorities to prioritize their water needs, demanding that “ordinary people’s water supply be restored.”
